fat people and planes

Innys

As overweight people are in the minority - well, just, in the UK at least - why should the majority have to upgrade or not fly?

Surely, those being overweight, being in the minority, should have to make the compromise?

This is just what has been proposed - paying extra for a second seat. Arguably, this is discriminating against non-overweight people as, if they want a second seat to stretch out onto, the won't get a discount......but let's not go there, shall we?

Bananasplit

FH_Brit wrote: »

As you say it is a choice and if you do not like it you have the CHOICE to NOT fly or upgrade yourself to avoid it.

But why should the majority have to? Why should I be forced to either not take a break in a country of my choice that involves flying or pay an incredible amount more to upgrade and avoid 'overhang' as someone previously called it?

I say this as someone who was very overweight and now isn't. Besides the fact that I'm now more comfortable I'm sure the person who sits next to me on my next transatlantic flight will be happy seeing a slim(ish) person sitting next to them.

malkie76

There are doctors that would disagree with you about choice

No there aren't. Obesity is only ever the result of eating more food than you need - that is the root cause in 100% of cases.

Increased appetite or altered metabolism is the medical reason that an otherwise healthy diet leads to obesity, however if their diet is controlled the weight gain is minimised. (It's worth remember that medical reasons account for a tiny minority of obese cases).

In some places obesity is considered a disability and under those rules your comments could cause offence and to say the least, not PC!

Being overweight can be a disability, but I struggle to have sympathy considering that the weigh gain is avoidable in 100% of cases, and weight gain can also be reversed in 100% of cases.

Sorry if you feel I'm being rude, but I'm just stating biological facts which some people find offense, despite their truthfulness.

Not knowing you, I can only assume that you are self centered,

When you start to attack the poster personally, rather than attack the points they are making it's clear that you don't have a valid arguement against the points they are raising.

I wonder if you have something that you do by choice that may be annoying or offensive to your fellow passengers in a close environment.

I could just imagine sitting beside someone for 9/10 hours who drinks too much, contantly sniffs/grunts, picks their nose, scratches their behind, etc etc.

Which can all be ended by having a polite word with the other passenger. However, asking the person next to you to lose 5 stone isn't a possibility.

As you say it is a choice and if you do not like it you have the CHOICE to NOT fly or upgrade yourself to avoid it.

As others in this thread have pointed out to you; why should I be forced to because other passengers can't control their diet appropriately.

Murphy_The_Cat

wallbash wrote: »

If us skinny's , sat next to 'fattys' who stayed on their seats and did not try to pinch part of our seats, which WE have paid for... no problem.
Or defend what is ours??

Innys wrote: »

As overweight people are in the minority - well, just, in the UK at least - why should the majority have to upgrade or not fly?

luvverly jubberly stuff.

How do you feel if you are sat next to a naturally wide shouldered, large chested bloke, rather than a 'fatty' ?

Surely you grumble about you 'space' being taken would be with the airline for only hiring you such a small space, rather than with Mr Big-Butnotbloaty Bloke

malkie76

I think the issue is that the wide-shoulder bloke can't alter their frame, whereas the wide obese one can.

However, I feel the theory should apply to anyone who cannot fit into a regular seat - ie if they are obese, or simply a huge person then they should pay for two seats.

As mentioned earlier I'm 6foot4, and as broad as a healthy 6foot4 person should be. While I don't struggle to fit into airline seats, I do struggle badly with my legroom.

To avoid inconviencing the passenger infront of me being unable to recline I will get exit row or bulk head seats (either by preselecting them, paying extra for them, or buying priority boarding passes). I never recline my seat as I don't like people doing it to me.

However, luckily for me I tend not to fly economy and enjoy the extra space of business class - either because my employer is paying, or (as a result of my employer paying) I have sufficient FF miles to book myself into business. I appreciate that isn't an option for everyone, but I'm just commenting on my personal circumstances. It's reasonably straight forward for anyone to fly business class on a once year basis (ie your summer holiday) by enrolling in an airlines FF programme and generating miles through internet shopping, converting Tescos point, or even completing online surveys.

wallbash

Surely you grumble about you 'space' being taken would be with the airline for only hiring you such a small space, rather than with Mr Big-Butnotbloaty Blok

When I book my ticket , I can find out how much space I am renting .
So have no problem with air line .

Would I have a problem with an overdeveloped blonde
wishful thinking .... never been that lucky

purpleivy

ALWAYS_POOR wrote: »

It sometimes crosses my mind that airlines should add passenger luggage to the passenger's weight. Why should someone who is 20 stone to start with have the same 20kg luggage allowance. Or maybe give everyone a set allowance to make up in bodyweight and luggage total (just a madcap thought really).

yer, but a large person's clothes will weigh more as they're....well, Large!

solodanceparty

Southwest Airlines does this. The check in staff/supervisors have to determine whether or not a person is too big for one seat, if they are the person has to buy another ticket.

http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/cos_qa.html

Murphy_The_Cat

malkie76 wrote: »

I think the issue is that the wide-shoulder bloke can't alter their frame, whereas the wide obese one can.

However, I feel the theory should apply to anyone who cannot fit into a regular seat - ie if they are obese, or simply a huge person then they should pay for two seats.

As mentioned earlier I'm 6foot4, and as broad as a healthy 6foot4 person should be. While I don't struggle to fit into airline seats, I do struggle badly with my legroom.

To avoid inconviencing the passenger infront of me being unable to recline I will get exit row or bulk head seats (either by preselecting them, paying extra for them, or buying priority boarding passes). I never recline my seat as I don't like people doing it to me.

It's reasonably straight forward for anyone to fly business class on a once year basis (ie your summer holiday) by enrolling in an airlines FF programme and generating miles through internet shopping, converting Tescos point, or even completing online surveys.

I'd forgotten all about this thread .
OK, cards on the table. I'm a large (17st), 6ft 3in man. I'm a big bloke with my weight spread all over me (I'm not a svelte example of Greek goddiness ). But I can quite comfortably fit into a Cattle Class seat on a fullservice airline -- but I wouldn't be a particularly happy bunny if my doppledanger was sat next to me on a flight !
I don't recline my seat, as I don't like it being done to me. Sadly, paying for/preselecting bulkhead seats is no longer an option to me on my holidays as I travel with my family and they won't allow children to occupy Exit Row seats and the bulkhead on my next flight is only located by the Exit row.

I was interested in your suggestion to upgarde to Business Class for your annual holiday and it was something that I looked into -- sadly, AA require 800000 miles (200000 miles each) or £7500 for my upcoming trip, rather than the 160000 (40000 mile each) or £1000(ish) that they require for me to fly Cattle Class. But if I was in the same situation as you, I would be racking up the Business Class FF miles as well. .

Usually when we fly, we travel in planes with a 2-3-2 configuration, & Mrs Cat & I have a child each. Unfortunately, our flight this yera is in a 757 with a 3-3 configuratiion. If you've booked seat 25C, be afraid, be very afraid. There's going to be a Large Cat in 25B !

malkie76

I wouldn't shoot for full reward tickets as it takes a crazy amount of miles (as you've highlighted). I'd aim for using miles to upgrade economy (or economy plus) tickets.

I don't know about much about American (although I'm flying transatlantic with them for the first time next week in business), but I do know a bit about BA (my airline of choice).

With BA a transatlantic upgrade is only 25k miles per person - so if you buy economy plus tickets with BA (often around £500pp) and upgrade them to BA business product for 25k miles per person. Further distances require more miles, and shorter distances arent worth the fuss.

Earning the miles can be done in many ways - for example BA allow you to convert Tesco clubcard points - I'm about to convert £100 of Tesco vouchers (this quarters total) which will give me 24k miles. If you do any online shopping then do it through their website and you can earn up to 12 miles per £, and they often double it during promotions.

The obvious way to earn miles is to fly, and you can set up a house-hold account meaning that all of your holiday miles can be pooled together.